"When I found the one I love, I held him and would not let him go" (Song of Solomon 3:4). My name is Kristy Dykes, and I write Christian love stories for Barbour Publishing...perhaps because I live with a hero husband. At this site, I cover marriage, romance, and Christian fiction. These book titles make me smile--and offer great truths: Sometimes I Wake Up Grumpy and Sometimes I Let Him Sleep, Love Extravagantly, Every Marriage Is A Fixer-Upper, Red-Hot Monogamy.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

I FOUND HAPPINESS

(Double click on the arrow.)

Milton, here:

Sunday was a great day as we enjoyed the ministry of Terry and Sandra (Kristy's brother and sister-in-law). They have an anointed ministry that encourages and blesses people wherever they go. Sandra is an outstanding soloist and Terry is a terrific preacher.

We pastor Kristy and Terry's home church where they grew up and where Kristy and I were married. Our church people love to hear Terry preach and Sandra sing. What a powerful team they are.

Terry ministered from II Timothy today. He shared how Paul was faithful to the cause of Christ in spite of horrific trials. Paul fought a good fight and kept the faith. Terry gave us some handles to hold to when we face life's inevitable trials. It was a wonderful and very inspiring message.

The video is of Sandra, Terry, Kristy, and me singing our one and only song entitled Happiness. Rebeca and Don, Kristy's sister and brother-in-law, usually join with us when we sing, but they could not be with us today. Their mother loved this song and had all of us sing it at most family gatherings.

My camera ran out of memory right at the conclusion of the song so please forgive the ending.

Hi Kristy and Milton,That was beautiful and uplifting! I can't imagine that it would have sounded any better with two more!!

I wanted to come here and write to you from my heart tonight. I check your site each day as I lift you up in prayer, but I don't always sign your guestbook. Shame on me! Perhaps you hear this all the time, but you have inspired me. I have felt for almost 4 years that God desires to grow closer to me through my writing. So, I have resisted and refrained from writing at all because I knew that He was asking me to write my story. It is a story that will benefit other young women, but I haven't been prepared to face myself in journaling about a difficult time in my life. You have inspired me to work through that hesitancy, so I started a blog to draw closer to God. In addition, He has blessed me with other encouraging Christian ladies in my short journey, so I would say that the benefits far outweigh the cost.

As for your own writing, I just wanted you to know that maybe the most important words you have penned are within all of these journal entries beginning with your diagnosis. You will never know how your struggles AND your JOY are impacting others who are searching for HOPE.

You have changed my own journey for the better and I am grateful to you for your example.

May God continue to Bless and Work in your life!Stephanie

P.S. I "met" your daughter, Jennifer this summer on Mommy Zone and just happened to check her blog shortly after you were diagnosed.

I am amazed at God's goodness in how he is extending Kristy's life beyond the first prognosis. I'm sure the docs did not expect her to be singing today, almost 5 months after her original diagnosis. I know that you are experiencing difficulty with your illness Kristy, but you are amazing. I'm still praying for extension of your life. God's not done yet and your family's beautiful witness is a blessing to us all. Thank you for your sharing and blessings to you all.

You two just continue to bless us all! What a beautiful song - I just loved it! It brings back such memories from my younger years in the A/G Christ's Ambassadors! Remember???? Memories are such a blessing, and I note how often you all speak of the memories you share. I'd take nothing for my heritage and from where I've come and been. GOD IS SOOOOOO GOOD - all the time!--The four of you sang beautifully together, just can't imaagine how wonderful it could've been had you ALL been there!!!! What a blessing! Your video's are the greatest, keep sharing them with us. We feel like you're our immediate family through this blog. We love you sooo much and pray daily for you! LOVE YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU BOTH - KEEP ON SINGING!

Dear Kristy and Milton,It was great to see you all and hear you singing. I know it must have brought a lot of joy to everyone to have you all there! I am so thankful you have such a supportive and encouraging family to share your journey.

The topic of the week on the ACFW loop asked us to share how our stories first came to mind. For quite a few of mine I'd have to say Kristy emailed me with a great idea and asked me to partner with her. Thanks for all the times you have invited me to partner with you on writing projects. Your creativity and friendship have been a wonderful blessing to me. You have taught me so much.

But even more important than coming up with creative stories, you have shown me by your example how to walk faithfully through life's challenges and remain joyful and full of hope. Thanks so much! You all are in my prayers today.

About Me

“Pizzazz! Enthusiasm! High energy! Those are a few of the words that describe Kristy Dykes. From the moment she steps up to the platform, she captivates your attention. As both a writer and a speaker, Kristy is moving and motivating. She will touch your heart with love and laughter.”-- FLORENCE LITTAUER. A former newspaper columnist, Kristy Dykes is an award-winning author of 10 Christian fiction titles as well as over 600 articles in many publications including two New York Times subsidiaries. Her titles have been on the Christian bestsellers list and Top 20 List at christianbook.com, and have won many awards including Second Place in the 2007 Barclay Gold, Third Place in the 2007 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, and Third Place in the ACFW 2006 Book of the Year Contest (novella category). Kristy writes a column for the ezine of the inspirational chapter of Romance Writers of America, has taught at many conferences and two colleges, and speaks for women's and writers' events.
Living a kaleidoscopic life as a pastor’s wife, she jokes that she has 1.2 million acts of kindness in circulation instead of 1.2 million books. And she loves every minute of it!

A RECENT AWARD

Kristy won Second Place in the 2007 Barclay Gold for her novella "Angel Food" in the 4-in-1 collection Kiss the (Cook) Bride. She won Third Place for the same title in the 2007 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, awarded by FHL, the inspirational chapter of Romance Writers of America. Kristy also won Third Place in the 2006 Book of the Year Contest, awarded by American Christian Fiction Writers, for her novella "Reunited" in the 4-in-1 collection Wedded Bliss?.

KRISTY'S PUBLISHED WORKS

The Heart of the Matter

Kiss the Bride

Wedded Bliss?

Room At the Inn

Holiday At the Inn

The Tender Heart

Church in the Wildwood

Sweet Liberty

American Dream

KRISTY'S UPCOMING RELEASE

Florida Weddings (Spring '08)

KRISTY'S LATEST BOOKS

1) The Heart of the Matter, a novel, is now available at christianbook.com. "Can Luke overcome his vain prejudice? Can Jeris allow her tender heart to trust again? Will they let God show them the heart of the matter?" (1 Samuel 16:7) 2) Kiss the Bride, a 4-in-1 novella collection, is also available. Coauthors: Kristy Dykes, Aisha Ford, Vickie McDonough, Carrie Turansky. Plot: Four restaurant owners discover a dash of hope, a dollop of longing, and a plateful of faith are the recipe for romance.